Jeeno Thitikul captured the biggest first-place prize in the history of women’s golf Sunday at the CME Group Tour Championship while Brooke Henderson fired her low round of the week to notch yet another top-10 finish.
Thitikul, who had already won the $1-million prize for topping the season-long standings of the AON Risk-Reward Challenge earlier in the week, added to her big bank deposit by winning the LPGA’s season finale in dramatic fashion – and the $4-million first-place prize.
Thitikul, who had an incredible (incredible!) season already to this point – including 12 top-10s in 16 starts – won for the second time in 2024 after hitting her approach shot in the 72nd hole to just five feet and rolling in the birdie. She eagled the par-5 17th to tie 54-hole leader Angel Yin at 21 under heading into the final hole of the season. Yin had a 20-foot birdie try on the last but it slid by, which opened the door for Thitikul to calmly roll in her birdie to close out a 7-under 65 Sunday.
Saturday marked the second day in a row that Thitikul went eagle-birdie to close out her round.
“I don’t know (what happened) to me on 17 and 18 (I) make a birdie on 17, which is giving me a good chance. But like having eagle, it’s more than I can ask for,” Thitikul said. “And then hitting really, really good second shot on 18 and hole the putt, it’s just like, you know, all the hard work that I’ve been, it just pay off.”
Thitikul’s first win of the season came at the DOW Championship earlier this year alongside Ruoning Yin, the LPGA Tour’s only team event of the season. She was also coming into the final event of 2024 on a heater, notching six straight top-10 finishes before the CME Group Tour Championship – three of them being top fives.
Despite falling just short, Yin also won $1 million for second place.
“Everybody will be talking about the $1 million I’m walking away with,” Yin said with a big smile when asked about what her biggest takeaway will be after this week, after battling injuries all season. “(But) I think a lot of confidence in my game and (heading) in the right direction.”
Golf Town Athlete Brooke Henderson had a spirited run up the leaderboard Sunday and notched yet another great finish to end her 2024 LPGA Tour season.
Brooke chipped in for birdie on the par-4 3rd before birding three of five holes as she made the turn. She also added birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to end her day. Brooke had a tremendous ball-striking week, missing just six fairways all tournament.
Brooke had a wonderful start to her 2024 season, notching three top-10s in her first four tournaments, including two third-place finishes. She cooled off through the summertime but ended with a few more strong results.
Brooke will once again play alongside Corey Conners at the Grant Thornton Invitational – the Canadian duo finished second last year – for her final event of the year.
December also marks the 10th anniversary of Brooke turning professional!
While there were a few tournaments worth celebrating at the LPGA Tour’s season finale Sunday, there were also a few careers worth celebrating.
Multi-time LPGA Tour winners Marina Alex and Ally Ewing announced this week in Naples, Fla. would be their final events on the LPGA Tour before they retired. Lexi Thompson, an inspirational figure to so many young girls and a major champion, also announced earlier this summer she would be stepping away from a full-time playing schedule after this year and this week marked her final CME Group Tour Championship.
“It was very emotional,” Thompson said. “It’s just always a special week regardless if it was my last tournament as a full time schedule or not.
“It’s a memory that I’ll always cherish forever, always coming here.”
The LPGA Tour season for 2025 kicks off, once again, at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions Jan. 30-Feb. 2, with Brooke Henderson in the field thanks to her win at that event two years ago.